The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1887-06-02

sne cougneu sngntiy, but there was no abate-
ment of her strength or speed. By o'clock
he had passed Red mountain and begun the
descent to the plain. Ten minutes later the
driver of the fast Pioneer coach was overtak-
en- and passed by "man on Pinto hoss"-an
event sufficiently notable for remark At
2:30 Dick rose in his stirrups with a great
shout. Stars were glittering through the
rifted clouds, and beyond him, out of the
plain, rose two spires, flagstaff and a strag-
Cling line of black objects. Dick jngled his
spurs and swung his riata, Jovita bounded
forward, and in another moment they swept
into Tuttleville and drew up before the
wooden piazza of the Hotel of All Ma
tions.
What transpired that night at Tuttleville
is not strictly part of this record Briefly
| may state, however, that after Jovita had
been handed over to sleepy hostler, whom
she at once kicked into unpleasant uncon
sciousness, Dick sailed out with the bar
keeper for tour of the sleeping town Lights
still cleaned from few saloons and gam
bling houses; but avoiding these, they stopped
before several closed shops, and by per-
sistent tapping and judicious outcry reused
the proprietors from their beds, and made
them unbar the doors of their magazines and
expose their wares Sometimes they were
met by curses, but oftener by interest and
some concern In their needs, and the inter
view was invariably concluded by drink
1t was 3 o'clock before this pleasantly was
given over, and with a small waterproof bag
Of india rubber strapped on his shoulders
Dick returned to the hotel. But here he
was waylaid by Beauty-Beauty opulent in
charms. afiiuent in dress, persuasive in speech,
and Spanish in accentl In vain she repeated
the invitation in "Exce ,ior," happily scorned
by all Alpine climbing youth, and rejected
by this child of the Sierras-a rejection
softened in this instance by laugh and his
last gold coin. And then he sprang TO the
saddle and dashed down the lonely street and
out into the lonelier plain, where presently
the lights, the black line of houses, the spires
and the flagstaff sank into the earth behind
him again and were lost in the distance.
The storm had cleared away, the air was
brisk and cold, the outlines of adjacent land
Dick reached the meeting house and the cross
ing of the country road. To avoid the rising
grade he had taken a longer and more cir
cuitous road, in whose viscid mud Jovita
sank fetlock deep at every bound 1t was a
poor preparation for a steady ascent of five
miles more; but Jovita, gathering her legs
under her, took it with her usual blind, un-
| raa snniuU f,,ry and a half bCur IL. or, raa nba1
the level that led to Rattlesnake creek.
Another half hour would bring him to the
creek. He threw the reins lightly upon the
neck of the mare, chrruped to her, and be-
gan to sing.
Suddenly Jovita SHE'D with bound that
would have unseated less practiced rider.
Hanging to her rein was a figure that had
leaped from the bank, and at the same time
from the road before her arose a shadowy
horse and rider. Throw up your hands,"
commanded the second apparition with an
oath.
Dick felt the mare tremble, quivor and
apparently sink under him. He knew what
it meant and was prepared,
"Stand aside, Jack Simpson, l know you,
you id thief Let me pass or"-
He did not finish the sentence Jovita rose
straight in the air with terrific bound,
throwing the figure from her bit with a
single shake of her vicious head and charged
with deadly malevolence down on the inn
pediment before her. An OATH a pistol shot,
horse and highwayman rolled over in the
road, and the next moment Jovita was n
hundred yards away. But the good right
arm of her rider, shattered by bullet,
dropped helplessly at his side.
Without Stacking his speed he shifted the
: reins to his left hand. But few moments
later he was obliged to halt and tighten the
saddle girths that had slipped in the onset.
/ This, in his crippled condition, took some
, time, He had no fear of pursuit, but look
ing up he saw that the eastern stars were al
ready paling, and that the distant peaks had
lost their ghostly whiteEess, and now stood
out blackly against lighter sky. Day was
' upon him, Then completely absorbed in O
} single idea, he forgot the pain of his wound
> and mounting again, dashed on toward Rat
tlesnake creek But now Jovita's breath
came broken by gasps, Dick reeled in bis
, saddle, and brighter and brighter grew the
sky.
Ride, Richard; run, Jovita; linger, o day
4 For the last few rods there was roaring In
$ his ears. Was it exhaustion from loss OF
3 blood, or what! He was dazed and giddy as
r he swept down the hill, and did not recog
, nize his surroundings Had he taken Tho
wrong road, or was this Rattlesnake creeka
, 1t was. But the brawling creek he hat
a | he 1
3 than doubled its volume, and now rolled
Q swift and resistless river between him ant
S Rattlesnake hill. For the first time thai
s night Richards heart sank within him. Th,
river, the mountain, the quickening east
s swan before his eyes. He shut them to re
= cover his self control In that brief interval
/ by some fantastic mental process, the littl
I room at Simpsons Bar and the figures of tn
4 sleeping father and son rose upon him. HI
a opened his eyes wildly, cast off his coat pis
: tol, boots and saddle, bound his precious pacl
n tightly to his shoulders, grasped the bar
9 fianks of Jovita with his barred knees, am
s with a shout dashed into the yellow water
n A cry arose from the opposite bank as tn
!, head of a man and horse struggled for
S few moments against the battling current
o and then were swept away amidst uproote,
= trees and whirling driftwood.
r
d The old man started and woke. The fir
: on the hearth was dead the candle in th
!, outer room Pickering in its socket, and some
h body was rapping at the door. He opened il
but fell back with cry before the dripping
d half naked figure that rolled against the door
@ post.
d "Dickg"
d "Hushl Is he awake yetr
# "No-but, Dickf'
r "Dry up, you old fooll Get me som
% whisky quickl" The Old Man few and II
% turned with-an empty bottle Dick woul
v have sworn, but his strength was not equal t
10 the occasion. He staggered, caught at th
Y handle of the door, and motioned to the Ol
5, Man.
10 @Thar's suthin' in my pack yer for Johnny
q Take it off, can't
yIzE4I Y,